Dropping out, need (financial?) advice...

LegacyUser

Hi guys,

Not sure if anyone here will be able to help but even if I can reassure myself it'll be grand. Basically my college attendance has been non-existent from October to the point now that I haven't attended in 6 weeks and simply won't/can't be returning.

It's not down to laziness, but stems from crippling depression and suicidal thoughts (mainly coming from a series of heartbreaking relationship breakdowns where I was used as an emotional dishrag). Not a particularly nice thing, but sure it has to happen to someone. This isn't the part I'm worried about because I've been through it before and I'm smart enough to not do anything stupid.

I haven't been working part time and was fine financially up until a few weeks ago when some unexpected trouble hit me hard.

What I really need to know is how this is gonna affect me in the case of applying for a grant when I get things sorted and return to college in September (I'm entitled to a grant now but haven't claimed as it was the last thing on my mind).

Also how will it work for claiming unemployment benefits while I'm looking for a job, which I'll obviously need to do now.

Sorry if I rambled,

cheers in advance.

Wagon

Your best bet is to chat to one of the head lecturers. They can point you in the right direction to help you get your finances sorted. If it's just the one year you have to repeat then you won't be too badly off. Maybe even drop into one of the banks and chat to customer service about student loans, just to get a good idea of what you're getting. Good luck anyway, hope things get better. Being used is never fun

LegacyUser

Should probably add a few details I omitted,

haven't slept in a few days so I'm a bit fuzzy. It's a 2 year higher diploma with a one year degree extension. It's not one of the universities in Dublin it's a college of further education so it falls under the VEC.

It's the first course I've attempted, the material and layout appeals to me so discounting personal issues I know I can do it, and want to do it.

Monkey61

Sorry to hear about your predicament OP. Get on to someone in the college and sort out your deferral. At this point you may only have to pay half fees next year if you sort this out quickly - although I might be being optimistic on that one, because I'm not sure of the cut off point.

The grant will be fine as you didn't claim it this year so you can just claim it afresh for September. Do get onto your county council about that quickly though because it can take months to sort out - what with getting all you and your parents tax details and such.

AFAIK you will be able to get benefits, but the amount will depend on your age, whether you are living at home and your parents income (I think) - but get on to your local social welfare office immediately as well.

All the organising is annoying, but at least it will give you something to focus your attention on. Also make sure that deferring your year is what you really want to do - some colleges tend to be very sympathetic when it comes to mental health issues and go out of their way to accomodate students.

Good luck.

CDfm

Unregistered wrote: »

Should probably add a few details I omitted,

haven't slept in a few days so I'm a bit fuzzy. It's a 2 year higher diploma with a one year degree extension. It's not one of the universities in Dublin it's a college of further education so it falls under the VEC.

It's the first course I've attempted, the material and layout appeals to me so discounting personal issues I know I can do it, and want to do it.

THe first port of call should be your student union as they will have the resourses to ask and check this out without disclosing your identity.

I would imagine that there may be certain medical issues such as depression which if certified should make grant applications easier.

Best of luck.

shellyboo

Unregistered wrote: »

I haven't been working part time and was fine financially up until a few weeks ago when some unexpected trouble hit me hard.

What I really need to know is how this is gonna affect me in the case of applying for a grant when I get things sorted and return to college in September (I'm entitled to a grant now but haven't claimed as it was the last thing on my mind).

Also how will it work for claiming unemployment benefits while I'm looking for a job, which I'll obviously need to do now.

OP, will you be repeating a year when you come back in September? Because if you are, unfortunately you're not entitled to a grant in that case. I qualified for a grant my whole way through college, but in the years where I was repeating, I didn't receive it. The grant only applies for the 3 years of your course, not any additional years - it's the same with free fees.

LegacyUser

CDfm wrote: »

THe first port of call should be your student union as they will have the resourses to ask and check this out without disclosing your identity.

I would imagine that there may be certain medical issues such as depression which if certified should make grant applications easier.

Best of luck.

er... we don't really have a students union. I was able to get some basic information on grants when I registered but that's about as far as it goes. I'm not in a particular state to drop into someone at this minute and discuss my personal problems at length.

CDfm wrote: »

OP, will you be repeating a year when you come back in September? Because if you are, unfortunately you're not entitled to a grant in that case. I qualified for a grant my whole way through college, but in the years where I was repeating, I didn't receive it. The grant only applies for the 3 years of your course, not any additional years - it's the same with free fees.

We'll only if I deferred I'd be repeating, this is why I'm asking for help as I'm clueless with what to do. Does that apply if you drop out regardless? For instance if you undertook a course at a different college etc?

And as I stated I haven't claimed a grant so does this still apply as well? I would only be receiving the grant for the 3 years of the course duration.

Is it regardless of if you claim or not? A repeat is a repeat and you won't receive anything?

Pub07

Could be worth considering omitting the details about your current course on the grant form. I know a guy who was getting the grant last year who would not have been eligible it had he mentioned he did a course that he dropped out of two years previously. I dont think the grant office checks, or even has access to your previous educational details.

There is a moral issue with doing so, but if you ask the guy I know who did it, its the last thing he's worried about, he wouldnt have been able to afford college without it.

shellyboo

Unregistered wrote: »

We'll only if I deferred I'd be repeating, this is why I'm asking for help as I'm clueless with what to do. Does that apply if you drop out regardless? For instance if you undertook a course at a different college etc?

And as I stated I haven't claimed a grant so does this still apply as well? I would only be receiving the grant for the 3 years of the course duration.

Is it regardless of if you claim or not? A repeat is a repeat and you won't receive anything?

Yeah, afaik if it's a repeat year, you're not covered... if you didn't claim the previous year it's your own too bad, I think.

It definitely applies if you go to a different college - the system for both fees and grants is limited to one university course... so if you do two years of one course and drop out, you're not entitled to fees or grants for the next course you undertake.

That said, the grant system is so hugely overwhelmed and messy that if you applied for it as if you were just entering first year, you MIGHT get away with it.

The best thing to do is maybe get in contact with USI if you don't have an SU at your college? Try...

Deputy President:
Dave Curran
deputypresident@usi.ie
017099209

(I actually know this guy and he is super nice and really helpful)

or...
Education Officer:
Bartley Rock
education@usi.ie
085 765 9280
017099211

They should know the proper details of what you're entitled to, as well as any other financial support you could look to. Hope that helps, OP!

dellas1979

You need to go to the Admissions office in your college (or the equivalent). You do not need to have a heartfelt conversation with them. It should go like this:

Hi, I last attended class in (DATE). I paid X (if you paid registration fees). I think I am eligible to withdraw compassionately on medical grounds. Can you please advise me.

What level course are you? i.e Level6 (cert), L7 (diploma) or L8 (honours degree)?
Or are you a FETAC?

If you are in third level, did you pay a registration fee at the start of the year? When was your last date of attendance? You also need to find out with that office (or a Finance office) what fees they claimed for the Dept. of Education for you. Also, you need to discuss if you can withdraw compassionately. You may not be charged fees next time your return to college. Colleges really only accept medical certs in these circumstances, so could you get something to cover you from a doctor?

With regards the grant, you need to contact your grant athority. The college has nothing to do with your grant. It is the grant authority who decides wether you get it or not. As you have not claimed/collected any grant, you more than likely will get it next year if you reapply.

One major bit of advice though is DO NOT leave this too long. The longer you speak to noone, the harder it gets, and the admin section of your college will view you as "shur he didnt bother to tell us anything so why help him". Play by the rules and they will be nice back to you.

paperclip2

Pub07 wrote: »

Could be worth considering omitting the details about your current course on the grant form. I know a guy who was getting the grant last year who would not have been eligible it had he mentioned he did a course that he dropped out of two years previously. I dont think the grant office checks, or even has access to your previous educational details.

There is a moral issue with doing so, but if you ask the guy I know who did it, its the last thing he's worried about, he wouldnt have been able to afford college without it.

View from the other side.
I work in the education sector and I have seen people be unlucky, get caught and have to repay the money. It tends to happen more if you are applying for a second grant for a similar course as the previous one and is more common in smaller grant awarding bodies like rural VEC's and county councils. In my local VEC for example there is only one grant awarding officer who has spotted second grant applications a few times. You can try it but there is a risk of getting caught.

Dellas1979's reccomendation is best. Most awarding bodies will look sympathically on issues beyond your control such as depression etc once its medically certified. But it is really important that you talk to both your grant awarding body and your course administrator ASAP. DO NOT leave it on the long finger as that will cause you problems down the line.

Good luck.